molly mutt dog bed duvetsby laurie |
Fab idea: Buy one of these dog duvets, stuff it with old worn-out clothes or blankets, rags, whatever, and you have yourself a great looking dog bed!
Made from: 100% preshrunk, washable cotton.
Who wouldn’t love them! More pics below!
Price: approx $24
Available at: www.mollymutt.com or www.pawhauspetboutique.com
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boomerang reclaimed paintby laurie |
Cannot say enough about the work that Boomerang Paint is doing!
The Quebec-based company takes unused paint and stain (even the hardened stuff!), reformulates it and repackages it, then sells it in a recyled plastic container. In 2008, the company recycled some 4,000,000 litres of paint.
About 1% new material is added to ensure good quality re lustre levels (which are low across the brand), viscosity and drying time. The finishes are washable and the alkyds can be used on exterior surfaces, including wood.
The Boomerang paint colour palettes are shown below; the selection, not surprisingly, is somewhat limited, but for a lot of people who are racked with indecision when faced with thousand of paint chips, that will be a total bonus!
Price: approx. $15
Availability: For a retailer near you, click here.
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new cards from cartolina!by laurie |
I’ve gotten to know some fabulous people doing this blog, and Fiona Richards from Cartolina Cards is one of them.
She’s just come out with a new selection of cards and they’re stunning, of course! The two above are just some of the luscious patterns and event themes available.
The cards are all printed on recycled FSC certified paper (Forest Stewardship Council) with vegetable-based inks at an environmentally friendly printing plant. Gotta love the work Fiona’s doing! P.S. Check her out on Twitter at @Fionacartolina
For Canadian retailers and international retailers, click here.
Available online at: www.greetq.com
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smells like a flower shop room sprayby laurie |
I’m not generally into room sprays, preferring to just keep things clean and fresh smelling that way, but we work right next door to the Canadian Living Test Kitchen, and sometimes when they’re cooking something fishy, garlicky or overwhelmingly greasy first thing in the morning, it’s all we can do to not flee from our offices.
Smells Life a Flower Shop Body & Room Spray has been a saviour on those occasions.
Made by Canadian company Mythical Matters, this spray is so natural you can use it as a perfume, and it really does smell just like a flower shop – truly evocative, but in a really subtle way, of fresh-cut greenery and beautiful blooms.
It’s made of water, alcohol, witch hazel distillate, aloe vera extract, glycerin and perfume and comes in a recyclable amber glass bottle; a percentage of every sale will be donated to the Toronto Wildlife Centre.
Available at: www.mythicalmatters.com
Price: $24.99 (8 oz.)
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the perfect travelling companions: worldproductsby laurie |
I don’t know about you, but when I travel, I like to carry as little as possible! Since I wear contacts, my toiletry bag is already weighted down with my glasses case and contact solution before adding things like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, blah, blah, blah….You get the picture.
So I was super excited when I got a press release yesterday about worldPRODUCTS created by Brian Phillips of Toronto’s worldSALON and hairstylist to celebrities like Kim Cattrall, Terrence Howard, k.d. lang, James Marsden, Norah Jones and Jessica Stam.
worldCLEAN, worldPROTECT and worldBELIEVE are products that can be used on both hair and skin and so cut down on the things you need to lug around with you when travelling, plus they have no artificial colours or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulphates or parabens and the packaging is recyclable. All of which made me a happy camper even before trying them out. And when I did try them out, I was impressed.
worldCLEAN is a hair and skin cleanser, worldPROTECT a hair and skin moisturizer, and worldBELIEVE a salve you can use anywhere to relieve skin inflammation, chapping, and cuts and scrapes (and it’s gentle enough for babies!). There’s no fragrance, so that might take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to things that smell. But I loved the fact the products are multiuse (take the worldPROTECT: I used it as a conditioner, dabbed it in my hair as a styling product, and also as a cream on my legs!), plus they do a great job. Who could ask for anything more?
Available at: www.world.ca or worldSALON, 132 Adelaide St. E., Toronto
Price: Limited time offer until Aug. 31, 2009 on the worldPRODUCT trio, $75 (worldCLEAN, 360 mL; worldPROTECT, 360mL; worldBELIEVE, 60mL); bottles can be brought back to the salon and refilled for 20% off (not including limited offer price)
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flip & tumble reusable bagsby laurie |
OK, there are loads of reusable bags on the market, so I’m quite particular about ones I’ll use. They have to be lightweight and not bulky, so I can tuck them easily into my purse. For a long time I’ve been using Envirosax bags for those very reasons, but Flip & Tumble’s 24-7 bags win on both those counts, too!
The colours are lovely (there are lots more), the wide strap is built for comfort, and check out how the bag rolls up into a teeny-tiny ball in this video.
Here’s some info on the bags direct from the Flip & Tumble site:
bag size = 12” x 14″ x 5” = large enough for 3 half gallons [2-litres] of milk and then some
ball size = 3” in diameter = the size of a peach
weight capacity = 25 lbs. = strong enough for a bowling ball or two
material = ripstop nylon
felt patch = keeps the bag on your shoulder
washing instructions = machine wash cold, drip dry
plastic bags spared = 1,000+ [how many bags you can potential save by using a reusuable bag!]
Available at: www.flipandtumble.com
Price: from $7 (US) per bag, depending on how many bags you buy!
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hive bench/table by arkturaby laurie |
Is this not one of the most amazing tables you’ve ever seen? Designed by Chris Kabatsi of Los Angeles-based design company Arktura, the Hive table features an algorithmically generated pattern that reminds me of lace or a spider’s web.
Why is the table green? Because it’s constructed of mostly recycled steel and zero-VOC powder-coated finish and is produced in a wind- and solar-powered facility.
The accommodating size – 50″ wide x 16″ deep x 16″ high – means it can be used as a bench or table, and it comes in orange (pictured), black, sea green and white.
Available at: www.vivavi.com
Price: $1,790 (US)
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muu’s sam cribby laurie |
Trying to find an environmentally friendly crib that’s also good-looking? The Sam Collection of kids furniture from Muu is now available in Canada!
With the incredibly versatile interchangeable panels, you can switch up the look of your child’s room in a flash as they grow, and as their tastes or yours change. Plus, the furniture is made from locally sourced hardwood from verified sustainable sources and formaldehyde-free MDF made from certified recycled wood fibres.
Addendum: In August, 2009, it was announced that Muu’s Sam Collection had been selected as a finalist for the 2009 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). Congratulations!
Price: from $449
Available at: Princess and the Pea, Edmonton, www.theprincessandthepea.ca; The Mom Store, Calgary, www.themomstore.ca; Inhabit, Vancouver, www.inhabitshop.com; www.muukids.com
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eneloop pre-charged rechargeable batteryby laurie |
What’s so great about another rechargeable battery?
The Eneloop is ready to go right out of the pack. That’s right! No waiting for it to charge up, just pop it in and you’re ready to go, plus it keeps 85% of its charge for one year, which means you don’t have to constantly recharge it, and it doesn’t have to be fully discharged before recharging.
You can recharge it using other NiMH chargers, not just an Eneloop charger, and recharge it up to 1,000 times. When you’re done with it, it’s recyclable – just drop it off at one of the 1,000 recycling centres across Canada.
For more info, check out www.eneloop.ca.
Price: from $13.99 for batteries alone, from $29.99 for batteries and charger
Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!
etsy extravaganza!by laurie |
Today I’m a Guest Curator on Etsy’s blog The Storque – very exciting! Here’s my post for them; for the full article, click here. (Keep in mind that things sell out quickly on Etsy, so if something is no longer available, the seller might have something similar, or might stock something again down the road.)
I’m always on the lookout for great natural products for the home from anywhere and everywhere and recently posted about a colourful baby quilt by Etsy’s Sewn Natural (www.sewnnatural.etsy.com). There’s masses of other fabulous earth-friendly products on Etsy and this is just a small sampling!
organic linen napkins by natsuminishizumi
Love the splash of colour on these organic linen napkins from natsuminishizumi. They’re hand-screenprinted using water-based inks, and 5% of the profits go to Friends Without a Border, a charity that provides medical care to children in Cambodia http://www.fwab.org/). Goodness all round!
Available at: www.natsuminishizumi.etsy.com
Price: $30 US per set of 2
vintage fabric hearts by pouch
These lavender sachets from Pouch will add a sweet scent to your drawers or closets and repel moths in a natural, chemical-free way; plus, they’re made from vintage recycled fabric.
Available at: www.pouch.etsy.com
Price: $11.50 US per pair
yellow dragonfly nightlight by mariposaavenue
What a clever use of an old can! Mariposa Avenue takes what would otherwise be trash and turns it into an attactive light fixture by cutting out a pretty design, painting it a bright, cheery colour and adding a light equipped with a photo sensor so it only comes on when the room is dark enough. Perfect for when guests come to visit or wee ones just find the dark too frightful.
Available at: www.mariposaavenue.etsy.com
Price: $15 US
recycled bright summer flowers journal and sketchbook by burgundydistrict
Feeling inspired? If you’re not already, you will be by this colourful 80-page book from BurgundyDistrict. It’s handmade, 100% recycled and perfect for jotting down your thoughts or sketching pictures.
Available at: www.burgundydistrict.etsy.com
Price: $21 US
white purity record bowl by vinylrocksmyworld
How many people do you know who can say they have something as unique as this absolutely fabulous white bowl by vinylrocksmyworld? I simply can’t say enough about how smashing I think it is! Unfortunately, this item just sold out today – so disappointing! But that’s what happens on Etsy, so if you see something you love, grab it quickly! Let’s hope vinylrocksmyworld finds more of these and quickly!
Check for similar items at: www.vinylrocksmyworld.etsy.com
seahorses pillow by alexandraferguson
Get a little taste of the seaside and summer with this 100% recycled felt appliqué pillow from alexandraferguson, pillow-maker extraordinaire. These jaunty little creatures are soft, cute and cuddly and are sure to add charm to any interior. Who would have believed they were once plastic water bottles?
Available at: www.alexandraferguson.etsy.com
Price: $49 US
letterpress counting poster by sweetbeets
This charming 8.5” x 11” letterpress poster from Canadian illustrator sweetbeets is on 100% cotton paper made of fibres recycled from the fabric industry.
Available at: www.sweetbeets.etsy.com
Price: $30 US
recycled sail tote – blue number 8 by reiter8
The stark, graphic quality of this tote from Reiter8 really makes it shine. Crafted from upcycled sailboat sails, the tote’s number is appliqued on the front and red organic cotton lines the inside, which is divided into three sections so you can easily organize all your gear.
Available at: www.reiter8.etsy.com
Price: $75 US
handwoven felted wool rag rug by fiveforty
Canadian crafter fiveforty turned old sweaters into this gorgeous felted wool rug. The lovely gradations of greys, blues and greens bring to mind lakes and cool green forests.
Available at: www.fiveforty.etsy.com
Price: $240 US
army blanket pillow by ouno
Made out of surplus Italian army blankets, the modern, sombre tones of these pillows from Vancouver crafter ouno would look chic against cleanlined white slipcovers in the summer.
Available at: www.ouno.etsy.com
Price: $60 US
cherry blossom base by trilliumartisans
Tuck a sprig of spring blossoms into this petite reclaimed glass vase etched by TrilliumArtisans member Amanda Siska (you can also check out her Etsy shop at http://breadandbadger.etsy.com).
Available at: www.trilliumartisans.etsy.com
Price: $45 US
felted wool beach stones by lilfishstudios
Add a hit of colour to your home’s surfaces with these quirky felted-wool-wrapped stones. Lisa Jordan of lilfishstudios uses wool from old clothing and finds her inspiration in nature – I’m in love with the colour and love the idea of these stones!
Available at: www.lilfishstudios.etsy.com
Price: $30 US
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